Cervical collar



Nov. 15, 1966 L. YELLIN 3,285,243

CERVICAL COLLAR Filed Jan. 2, 1964 INVENTOR. LOU/S VELL IN My. 5M

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,285,243 CERVICAL COLLAR Louis Yellin, 242 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,011

3 Claims. (Cl. 128-75) In general, this invention relates to a new and improved cervical collar and more particularly to a better cervical collar which gives rigid support to the cervical spine to prevent flexion and hypertension thereof which can be simply and easily put on and removed and which can fit persons with various size necks.

The cervical collar is intended to relieve pressures on cervical nerves by supporting the head and preventing untoward pressures from being applied to the neck.

The cervical collar must be comfortable for the wearer as it will be worn over long periods of time. Further, for many types of injuries, such as a slipped disk in the neck area, it is desirable to maintain front to back stability of the head of the wearer and additionally to prevent rotation of the head.

The cervical collar should be adjustable in accordance with the size of the wearer and his individual needs but must retain rigidity and strength even after repeated autoclavings.

Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and improved cervical collar.

Further object of this invention is to provide a new and better cervical collar which includes a posterior bar for preventing rotation of the head and maintaining front to rear stability thereof.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of .a new and better cervical collar which is adjustable for different necks and provides a rigid support in any adjustable position thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and better cervical collar which can be easily put in place and removed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a person wearing the cervical collar of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the cervical collar of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the cervical collar of FIGURE 2 taken along lines 33.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of a cervical collar of FIGURES 2 and 3 taken along lines 44 in FIG- URE 3.

In FIGURE 1, the man is shown wearing the cervical collar 12 of the present invention. The cervical collar 12 consists of a neck piece 14 which fits between the jaw and the shoulder of the wearer 10 around the neck and a posterior bar 16 which extends along the spine from the back to the basal portion of the skull.

The neck piece 14 is given its shape by a flexible plastic former 18 which is generally U-shaped having its closed end 20 in a lower plane than the open ends 22 and 24 thereof. Around the periphery of the flexible plastic former 18 there is placed a resilient foam edging 26 covered with .a washable fabric material 28 sewn to the former 18. The resilient foam edging 26 is thicker at the closed end 20 portion of the former 18. By making the closed end in a lower plane than the open ends, the chin of the wearer 1t) rests on the thickened foam edging 26 which fits the contour of the jaw bone.

The closed end portion of the U-shaped flexible plas- "ice tic former 18 is given rigid reinforcement by a U-shaped metal bar 30 secured to the former 18 by rivets 32. Thus, the closed end of the neck piece 14 is rigidly reinforced and will not flex. However, the open ends 22 and 24 will be flexible so as to conform to the contour of the wearer 10.

The former 18 has a plurality of holes 34 formed therein to allow air to enter between the neck piece 14 and the neck of the wearer for the comfort of the wearer.

The posterior bar 16 includes a rigid metal sheet 36 curvilinear in shape to conform to the back and neck of the user. The :bar 16 has a length greater than the height of neck piece 14. A flared upper end 38 of bar 16 is curved to receive the base of the skull and thus prevent rotation of the head of the wearer 10. The rigid metal sheet 36 has a foam rubber coating 40 on the side thereof which is to engage the wearer. The foam rubber sheet 38 and the rigid metal sheet 36 are coated with a washable material 42.

The posterior bar 16 is adjustably secured to the neck piece 14 by provided a connector 44 formed of a cloth material sewn to the center of the posterior bar 16 in a manner forming connector arms 46 and 48 for selective securement to the outer ends 22 and 24 respectively of the neck piece 14.

The connector arm 46 and open end 22 have complementary portions 50 and 52 of a selectively adjustable fastener such as Velcro formed on the mating surfaces thereof to secure the posterior bar 16 in any position desired with respect to the open end 22 of neck piece 14. Similarly, the connector arm 48 and open end 24 have respective complementary portions 54 and 56 thereon for selectively securing the posterior bar 16 to the open end 24 of the neck piece 14. The complementary portions 54 and 56 may also be Velcro. The use of Velcro as the means for achieving selective securement of the connector arms 46 and 48 to the open ends 22 and 24 respectively assures a hairline adjustment of the posterior 16 with respect to the neck piece 14 and thus may be comfortably positioned by the wearer with little or no effort. The use of Velcro also allows the wearer to place the posterior bar into position by himself. Further, as the open ends 22 and 24 are not reinforced by bar 30, they are flexible and in combination with the flexible connector arms 46 and 48 will adjust to the contour of the neck of the wearer 10 with little or no effort.

By utilizing the former 18 manufactured of a flexible plastic material, the entire cervical collar can be light in weight and easily autoclaved. Velcro especially may be autoclaved without injury to the property thereof. It will be understood that the coating materials 26 and 42 are waterproof and washable.

The flanged upper end 38 of the posterior bar 16 in combination with the shape of the neck piece 14 which forces the neck piece 14 under the jaw bone of the wearer gives front to back stability for the cervical collar. Further, the outwardly extending upper flange portion prevents rotation of the head of the wearer thus giving the rigid support to the cervical spine which is necesary to prevent flexing and hypertension thereof,

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A cervical collar comprising a neck piece, said neck piece being substantially rigid and being of a substantial height thereby adapted to support the chin of a wearer, a posterior bar adapted to be connected to said neck piece, said posterior bar including a rigid curvilinear support having a height greater than the height of said neck piece, said rigid curvilinear support being curved thereby adapted to fit the neck of a wearer, said rigid curvilinear support having a flared curved upward end thereby ad-apted to engage the base of the skull of a wearer to prevent rotation of the head of the wearer, selectively securable connecting means integral with the center of said posterior bar for selectively securing said posterior bar at the center portion thereof to side surfaces of said neck piece, said selectively securable connecting means including flexible connecting arms integral with and extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the center of said posterior bar, said flexible connecting arms and said neck piece side surfaces having means on mating surfaces for selectively securing said posterior bar to said neck piece, said neck piece being U-shaped in plan view, the front central portion of said U-shaped neck piece being reinforced to be rigid, the ends of said U-shaped neck piece being flexible, said U-shaped neck piece front central portion being in a lower plane than the ends of said U-shaped neck piece, said neck piece front central portion including a resilient foam cushion along the edges thereof, said posterior bar including a rigid metal sheet running the length thereof, and a flexible foam cover integral with the surface of said metal sheet facing said neck piece.

2. A cervical coll-ar comprising a neck piece, said neck piece being substantially rigid and being of a substantial height thereby adapted to support the chin of a wearer, a posterior bar adapted to be connected to said neck piece, said posterior bar including a rigid curvilinear support having a height greater than the height of said neck piece, said rigid curvilinear support being curved thereby 'adapted to fit the neck of a wearer, said rigid curvilinear support having a flared curved upward end thereby adapted to engage the base of the skull of a wearer to prevent rotation of the head of the wearer, selectively securable connecting means integral with the center of said posterior bar for selectively securing said posterior bar at the center portion thereof to side surfaces of said neck piece, said selectively securable connecting means including flexible connecting arms integral with and extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the center of said posterior bar, said flexible connecting arms and said neck piece side surfaces having means on mating surfaces for selectively securing said posterior bar to said neck piece, said n'eck piece being U-shaped in plan view, the front central portion of said U-shaped neck piece being flexible, said U-sh-aped neck piece front central portion being in a lower plane than the ends of said U-shaped neck piece, said neck piece front central portion including a resilient foam cushion along the edges thereof, and a rigid metal U-shaped brace integral with the front central portion of said collar for reinforcing the front central portion of said collar.

3. The cervical collar of claim 2 wherein said collar has a plurality of holes passing therethrough adjacent the front central portion thereof, said foam cushion having a waterproof coating therearound, said posterior bar and selectively securable connecting means being manufactured of a waterproof material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 392,212 11/1888 McCollum 297393 443,764 12/1890 Hilliard 128164 3,055,358 9/1962 Di Palma et al. 12875 3,070,090 12/1962 Taylor 12875 3,075,521 1/1963 Grassl 12875 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,048,671 1/ 1959 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES Camp Cervical Collar ad in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 183, No. 11, March 16, 1963, page 78.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

J. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CERVICAL COLLAR COMPRISING A NECK PIECE, SAID NECK PIECE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID AND BEING OF A SUBSTANTIAL HEIGHT THEREBY ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE CHIN OF A WEARER, A POSTERIOR BAR ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID NECK PIECE, SAID POSTERIOR BAR INCLUDING A RIGID CURVILINEAR SUPPORT HAVING A HEIGHT GREATER THAN THE HEIGHT OF SAID NECK PIECE, SAID RIGID CURVILINEAR SUPPORT BEING CURVED THEREBY ADAPTED TO FIT THE NECK OF A WEARER, SAID RIGID CURVILINEAR SUPPORT HAVING A FLARED CURVED UPWARD END THEREBY ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE BASE OF THE SKULL OF A WEARER TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE HEAD OF THE WEARER, SELECTIVELY SECURABLE CONNECTING MEANS INTEGRAL WITH THE CENTER OF SAID POSTERIOR BAR FOR SELECTIVELY SECURING SAID POSTERIOR BAR AT THE CENTER PORTION THEREOF TO SIDE SURFACES OF SAID NECK PIECE, SAID SELECTIVELY SECURABLE CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING FLEXIBLE CONNECTING ARMS INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE CENTER 